Flow-motor



Feb. 12, 1935.

A. R. PANGBORN FLOW uo'ron Filed March 27, 1933 Pas ed F b. 12, 1935 lUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

This invention is a control device, the same being especially adaptedfor controlling the supply of fuel to a burner, and more particularly toa burner forming part of a steam generator of a type for which thisinvention is especially designed v Briefly the invention consists in theprovision of a. control device for disposition within a fuel lineconnected with a burner and consisting in a construction, combinationand arrangement of elements as to be substantially automatic inoperation, being controlled solely by pressure in a manner to insure acut off of the flow of gas to the burner in the event, from one reasonor an- 15 other, the supply of water to the generator is materiallyreduced or completely shut off.

The invention together with its numerous objects and advantages will bebest understood from a study of the following description, taken incon.- nection with the accompanying drawing wherein is illustrated thepreferred embodiment of the invention. I I

It is to be understood at the outset that the embodiment of theinvention herein illustrated and described is in no wise intended to berestrictive, and that it is intended to limit the invention only inaccordance with the requirements of the prior art and scope of theappended claims. 30 In the drawing;

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through the device with the sameshown in closed position, and

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view through the device, the samebeing shown in an open position.

Referring to the drawing by reference numerals it will be seen that thedevice comprises a substantially cylindrical casing comprising a body orintermediate portion 5 having removable-top and bottom sections or caps6 and 7 respectively secured to the intermediate or body section 5through the medium of bolts or other fastening elements 8.

The body or intermediate section 5 has an opening 9 therethrough" and ateach end of the opening is provided with, a concavity 10 and 11respectively. The top and bottom or cap sections 6 and 7 are hollow andprovide pressure chambers 12 and 13 respectively separated from theconcavities 10, 11 through the medium of diaphragms 55 9, of the bodysection 5 is a piston 16'having its ends 10 extending through aperturesin the diaphragms 14, and engaged with said pin or washers 17 and nuts18.

At diametrically opposite sides thereof the body section 5 of the casingis provided with inlet- 5 and outlet ports 19, 20 havingrespectively-restricted inner ends 21, 22. Pipe sections 23, 24 formingpart of .a fuel line have ends threaded with the ports 19, 20 forconnecting the devicein the line between the source of fuel supply andthe burner.

The ports 19, 20 are controlled by the piston 16 which is providedintermediate its ends with a peripheral groove forming a fluid passage.25 for movement into and out of registry with the ends 21, 22 of thesaid ports 19, 20.

Pressure chambers 12 and 13, are connected through the medium of anaxial passage 26 provided in the piston 16 and operating in the passage26 is the elongated stem 27 of a relatively stationary valve 28 normallyseating at the lower end of the passage 26.

Swivelly connected with the valve 28 is an adjusting bolt 29 screwthreadedly engaged with the cap 7 and equipped with a lock nut 30.Mounted on and secured to the cap 6 in any suitable manner, preferablyas by being integral therewith is a dome 31 in which is arranged a coilspring 32. The coil spring 32 has its lower end seating against thewasher 17 associated with the pin provided at the upper end of thepiston 16. The upper end of the spring 32 seats against the. head of anadjusting screw 33 that is thread- 31; and a lock nut 34 is associatedwith the screw the screw 33 and lock nut 34 the tension of the spring32may be adjusted as found-desirable.

The chamber 13 is provided with a water inlet' and threadedly engaged inthe inlet of the chamber 13 is one end a pipe section 35 forming a waterconduit leading from a suitable source of supply. The chamber 12 isprovided with a water outlet and screw threadedly engaged with theoutlet of the chamber 12 is one end of a pipe section 36 that is,'in thepresent instance intended to connect the chamber with the generator orsimilar device with which the invention is to be associated in actualpractice.

From the descriptionof the invention thus far it will be seen that thedevice, with the parts in the position shown in Figure 1 is normallyclosed.

Assuming that water is supplied to the chamber 13, it will beapparent-that when the pressure in the chamber 13 is built upsufiiciently diaphragm 5 33 as shown. Obviously through the medium of tomove upwardly and the diaphragm 14 to also correspondingly flex upwardlyuntil the passage 25 is in registry with the ends 21, 22 of the ports19, 20. With the passage 25 in' registry with the said ports, fuel,assuming the same in the present instance to be gas, will pass from theport 19 around the passage 25 to discharge from'the device through theport 20 and to be carried through the medium of the pipe section 24 tothe burner. Upward movement of the piston 16, which movement is ofcourse relative to the valve 28 will permit water from the chamber 13 topass upwardly through the passage 26 into the cham: ber 12 and from thechamber 12, through the conduit 36 to the generator.

When the back or generator pressure in the chamber 12 nearly equals thewater pressure in the chamber 13 the action of the spring 32 togetherwith the pressure in the chamber 12 will act on the diaphragm 14 torestore the same to' its normal position causing the piston 16 to movedownwardly thus closing the port 19, 20 and arresting or stopping theflow of fuel through the device tothe burner.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the device acts in response topressure, is substantially automatic in operation, and when used inconjunction with, for example,'the generator for controlling the supplyof fuel to the burner of the generator, will prevent any damage to thegenerator since, as is thought apparent, unless there is water flowinginto the generator there can be no flre under the generator, as theabsence of the water flow will result in an automatic closing of theports 19, 20 and a consequent cut off of the flow of fuel to thebumer.

As is thought apparent the tension of spring 32 may be adjusted as tomaintain the proper balance at various water pressures; while the valve28 through the medium of its connection with the screw 29 may be readilyadjusted axially relative to the piston 16.

When the device is in a closed condition gas in the inlet side thereofis permitted to leak from the ports 19 .to a passage 37 into thechambers formed by the cavities 10, 11, passage 37 connecting the port19 with said cavity.

While I have herein referredto the device as being especially adaptedfor use in connection with generators it is to be understood that I- amaware of the utility of the devices other than just stated andaccordingly the use herein mentioned is not intended to be restrictive,but only exemplary.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. In a flow control device of the class described, a casing providedwith a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet port, a piston mounted forreciprocation within said casing and provided witli a passage forconnecting said ports, pressure chambers provided above and below saidports a water inlet and outlet connected respectively with saidchambers, diaphragms in said chambers connected-with said piston, andsaid piston having a passage therethrough connecting said chambers andvalve means part of which is connected with said piston and part withsaid casing for controlling communication between the passage in saidpiston and one of said pressure chambers.

2. In a device of the character described, a casing provided with afuelinlet port and a fuel outlet port, a piston mounted for reciprocationwithin said casing and having a passage for establishing communicationbetween said ports, upper and lower pressure chambers said casing havingwater inlet and outlet ports in communication respectively with saidchambers, diaphragms mounted in said chambers, operating connectionsbetween said diaphragm and said piston for controlling the movement ofthe latter, an axial passage in said. piston connecting said pressurechambers and said water inlet and outlet ports, a spring device in oneof said chambers and acting on said piston to normally move the same inone direction, and a valve member adjustably mounted in the other ofsaid pressure 'chambers in operative position and against which thepiston at one end of said axial passage is adapted to seat when thepiston is in one position.

3. In a device of the character described, a flow control for a fuelfeed line including a casing a reciprocating piston, and pressureresponsive means at opposite ends of the piston for actuating it andincluding pressure chambers one of which is provided with a water inlet,and the other of which is provided with a water outlet, a passageextending through the interior of said piston and from end to endthereof, and valve means attached to said casing and said piston forcontrolling said passage.

4. In a device of the character described, a casing provided at one endwith a water inlet, and at a relatively opposite end with a wateroutlet, and being also provided intermediate said ends, and on one sidewith a fuel inlet port, and on a side opposite to said inlet port with afuel outlet port, spaced diaphragms mounted in said casing, a pistonbetween said diaphragms and connectedtherewith, said pistons beingprovided with a passage for establishing communication in said fuelinlet and outlet port, and being also provided with a second passage forthe circulation of water from the water inlet of the casing to the wateroutlet of the casing and a valve for closing one end of the second namedpassage in said piston mounted within one end of the casing.

5. In a, device of the character described, a casing provided at one endwith a water inlet, and at a relatively opposite end with a wateroutlet, and being also provided intermediate said ends, and on one sidewith a fuel inlet port, and on a side opposite to said fuel inlet portwith a .fuel outlet port, spaced diaphragms mounted in said casing, apiston between said diaphragm and connected therewith, said piston beingprovided with a passage for establishing communication in said fuelports and being also provided with a second passage for the circulationof water from the water inlet at one end of the casing to the wateroutlet at the other end of the casing and a valve for closing one end ofthe second named passage in said piston mounted within one end of thecasing in flxed position relative to said piston, and an adjustablespring device engaged with said piston at the end thereof remote fromsaid valve.

- 6. Mechanism for controlling the flow of fuel and water comprising acasing having a water inlet and outlet and also a fuel inlet and outlet,said casing having a piston therein and said piston having on itsperiphery a groove movable into and out of communication with said fuel,

inlet and outlet and at its ends an inlet and outlet chamber and a waterpassage therethrough from end to end, a valve part in the piston tocontrol the water passage, said valve part being water and fuel inletsand outlets, a piston in said here having a circumferential groove forconnecting a fuel inlet and outlet of the casing and said piston alsohaving at one end a'valve part movable with the piston to control waterthrough said water inlet and outlet, there being a valve seat held bythe casing and flexible means connecting thefpiston'to the casing toallow the piston to move to a position where the circumferential groovewill open the inlet and outlet i'uel passages through the casing.

8. In a device of the character described, a

casing having a bore therein, said casing also having a stationary valvepart held therein, a piston operative in said bore, water and gas inletsand outlets to the casing, said piston having a circumferential groovemovable in said bore to R. PAN BORN.

